Pakistan considering GMOs import to increase yield

Pakistan is seeing biotech crops for increased yield, more revenue by exporting excess produce but also to safeguard food security of growing population that was prone to potential adverse effects of climate change, said an official.

“Government of Pakistan needs biotechnology and other modern methods to enhance farm production far more than self-sufficiency,” said Dr. Tan Siang-Hee, executive director CropLife Asia, a Singapore-based crop science research organization, while talking to media.

“Pakistan is on way to self-sufficiency in food, Country wants to adopt modern technologies and methods to make agricultural production sustainable and improve the conditions of the farmers.”

Hee stressed that Pakistani farmers need education about benefits of biotechnology, improvements in infrastructure of agriculture, and recommended government to take actions for value-addition, processing and efficient mechanism for export of fruits and vegetables.

CropLife Asia delegation met Sikander Hayat Bosan, federal minister for national food security and research, at his office. Hee urged while briefing minister about Crop Life Asia and biotechnology, ministry has leading role in formulating and regulating use of biotechnology and GMOs.

“Pakistan is ready to adapt to new challenges. Many international regulating authorities have approved biotechnology,” Hee said. Bosan praised research organization for playing their role in increasing crop production in Pakistan by educating farmers, familiarizing safe and effective products, and training to growers and agriculture staff.

“Using biotechnology is under consideration and after consultations develop agreement over it. A committee has been formed,” Bosan said answering to Hee’s suggestions.

Hee revealed that 18 million farmers in world have successfully adopted biotechnology, and reached to 65million total beneficiary of peasant families. “The total area of biotech crops has reached 185.1 million hectares since 1996 globally,” Hee said that most of the European countries, Japan, Korea and China are importing genetically modified corn, soya, soya-meal, and canola. CropLife Asia is a Singapore-based international organization- developing innovations in crop protection and plant biotechnology.